So what is a page about fundraising and music doing on the website of a preservation company? It’s true, music and preservation go together. Public spaces or buildings in need of preservation need what music provides.
Your cause is simple: raise money to save a building or open space. But let’s take money as an end, and put that at the tail end of the priority list for a moment. The most important thing you’ll need to raise is public awareness of the cause. In this crazy world, just another plea for money gets lost in all the noise. It needs to be an upbeat call to action, one that’s uplifting and fun to be a part of. The community needs to see your cause as a worthwhile one.
Next, you’ll need a dedicated volunteer army. Volunteers make a project run, pure and simple. A very small group, no matter how dedicated, will run out of steam as the natural cycle of ebb and flow sets in. Fresh faces are always needed as turnover with volunteers can be high.
Lastly, the money. Without the first two, money won’t happen. You might attract a few donors, but that will stop quickly as a project loses steam.
This is where the music comes in. As a basis for a community event, it never fails to make people smile, want to join in, and yes, contribute. Outdoor barbecues, square dances, or street festivals all work to get the public (and that all-important press) engaged in a positive way to help make a publicly funded project go.
A great fundraising event inspires ownership of the cause, and becomes not work, but a great big party for all to enjoy. If the size is kept manageable, and the goals realistic, then it becomes repeatable throughout the years, and keeps the project in front of the public’s eye.
We can help organizations large and small develop the goals needed for successful fundraising, recruit an army, market the project in creative ways, and put on an event that’ll be the talk of the town. How do we know this? Because we’ve done it for over 20 years.